Orlando Thanks Visitors in a Big way for Making it No. 1 Destination in U.S.

Philip Robertson, GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS adjudicator and George Aguel, President and CEO of Visit Orlando, celebrate the declaration of Visit Orlando as a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title holder as part of the launch of a new thank you campaign...

GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™

Orlando took the concept of appreciating its visitors to unprecedented heights today as it achieved a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title, gathering thousands of hand-written thank you cards from local attractions and hotels to mail to actual visitors who supported the destination in 2016.

The event was launched in conjunction with the announcement of the annual number of visitors who came to the destination. The destination announced a record 68 million visitors.

Dedicating this announcement to these individuals, Visit Orlando and the tourism community set out to show their appreciation by saying "Thank You!" in a grand way.

Visit Orlando unveiled its new milestone visitation number by setting the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title Most greetings cards collected in 24 hours during a gathering of more than 900 members of the tourism community. The event was held to celebrate National Travel and Tourism Week.

"Orlando's visitation number represents the emotional connections we make with millions all over the world. The love they show us never ceases to inspire us, and led us to launch a year-long campaign around two important words: thank you," said George Aguel, President and CEO of Visit Orlando.

As a way to say thank you to Orlando visitors in 2016, the Orlando tourism community came together to handwrite 3,144 thank you cards for #OrlandosBIGThankYou. This new campaign will run through the remainder of the year to thank millions of guests for their support through hand-written cards, Visit Orlando's social media channels, marketing communications, destination websites and member programs.

"Orlando and Orange County continue to be the number one vacation destination in the nation," said Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs. "But this wouldn't be possible without the many millions of guests who choose to come here year after year for our world renowned attractions and entertainment options. However, what truly makes their experience here better than any other community is our culture of hospitality combined with our front-line hospitality workers and welcoming residents."

"Having had the pleasure of visiting Orlando, Florida on multiple occasions in recent years for GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title attempts, we can fully appreciate the positive sentiment behind this extraordinary collection of Thank You cards. With great pleasure we declare Visit Orlando, GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title holders and OFFICIALLY AMAZING™," said Philip Robertson, GUINNESS WORLDRECORDS Adjudicator.

About Visit OrlandoVisit Orlando is the tourism association for the most visited destination in the United States, with representation in more than a dozen countries around the world. Visit Orlando, together with its 1,200 member organizations, represents the area's leading industry.

About OrlandoHome to seven of the world's top theme parks, Orlando - Theme Park Capital of the WorldSM is the No. 1 family vacation destination and the most visited destination in the United States. An unparalleled mix of unique experiences create cherished memories for visitors, including legendary theme parks from Disney, Universal and SeaWorld, an array of world-class water parks, entertainment venues, an award-winning food scene, shopping, sports and nightlife. And, with 450 hotels, Orlando offers more lodging options than nearly any other destination in the world, from expansive resorts to uniquely themed hotels.

Find our posts about this historic event on our social media channels:

Visit Orlando unveiled its new milestone visitation number of 68 million by setting the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title Most greetings cards collected in 24 hours during a gathering of more than 900 members of the tourism community.